Improvement in shirt-bosom supporters



G. F. JOHNSON. Shirt Bosom Suppnrters. N0.']40,373, PatentedJu|y1,873.

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UNITED STATES GEORGE F. JOHNSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF PATENT OFFICE;

TWO-THIRDS HIS RIGHT TO WASHINGTON G. WALTER AND D. W. J.

HUTToN, oF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIRT-BOSOM SUPPORTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,373, dated July 1, 1873; application filed May 3, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE F. JOHNSON,

vof the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shirt-Bosom Protectors and Retainers; and I do hereby declare the following vto be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side View thereof. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists in a frame, applicable to a shirt-bosom, for retaining the proper shape thereof, preventing gathering and ruf- Afling at all points, and protecting it against sweat or moisture of the body.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a light frame which is adapted to be applied to the rear of a shirt-bosom, and consists of the side pieces B B, the center piece or pieces C C, the horizontal bottom piece D, the top piece E, which is curved to conform to the shape of the neck of the wearer, the horizontal piece or pieces D and the horizontal pieces or tapes D" D", between the top and` Vbottom pieces.

It will be seen that the side pieces B B and top and bottom piecesD E form a continuais light in structure, it is sufciently firm and strong for the purpose intended.

The frame A will be of bowed or curved form and have at its corners tapes, hooks, eyes, or other fastenngs, F, for securing the ame to the rear of a shirt-bosom, so that the bosom may be said to be stretched on the frame A; and when the shirt and frame are in use the bosom is prevented from coming together either vertically or horizontally.

A loop or button may be applied to the top and bottom of the central piece C for attachment, respectively, to the top or collar band of the shirt or bosom and to the bottom of the bosom. This prevents the rising of the bosom and gathering and rumpling thereof in vertical direction. The fastenin gs F prevent the bosom from coming together at the neck and waist of the wearer, which otherwise is a common cause of complaint 5 and in case there is any tendency of said bosom coming together or gathering at the sides or between the neck and waist, tapes may be applied to the sides B B 5 orordinary pins may be'there employed to prevent such movement.

Owing to the interposition of the frame between the shirt-bosom and body of the wearer the bosom is thrown out and sweat or moisture is prevented from reaching the bosom, whereby the latter not only retains its smooth and unbroken appearance, but is protected against the unsightly and unpleasant effects due to such sweat or moisture.

For a shirt opening in the back the frame is secured in place to the bosom before the shirt is applied to the body; but in shirts open in the front the frame is'secured to one half or liap of the shirt. The shirt is then applied and the frame subsequently secured to the other half or iiap of the shirt.

The pieces constituting the frame may be constructed of spring-steel, whalebone, reeds, rattan, or other suitable elastic and strong material.

I am aware that a longitudinal strip and transverse pieces attached thereto have been employed for attachment to a shirt-bosom; but in such device no provision is made for preventing gathering at the neck, sides, and bottom or waist portion of the bosom, and all of the edges of the aforesaid strip and pieces are exposed and liable to pierce the underclothing of the wearer and chafe the body; but

Having described my invention and the a lvantages thereof, I claim as an improvement- The frame A, consisting of the Vertical side pieces B B, the horizontal piece D, and horizontal neck-piece E, in combination with the cent-ral strip or strips C C and horizontal piece or pieces D D', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The `above signed by me this 24th -dayro April, 1873.

' G. F. JOHNSON, M. D.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, MILLARD F. WALToN. 

